Studying in the USA from Italy: Admission, Visa, and Cost Guide
By Muntasir • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 27, 2026
Three tracks run together when you move from an Italian school to a US campus: build an application with NACES-evaluated transcripts and test scores, budget 32,000 to 65,000 US dollars a year depending on school type, and start your F-1 visa steps the moment your I-20 arrives, since in-person interviews are now mandatory for nearly everyone.
🎓 Public university out-of-state tuition and fees average 31,880 US dollars for 2025-26. Private nonprofit total cost of attendance averages 65,470 US dollars.
📩 Have your diploma di maturità and any Italian university transcripts evaluated by a NACES member service before you apply.
🛂 Budget 350 US dollars for the SEVIS fee and 185 US dollars for the visa application fee, before you even reach the interview.
⏱️ Book your interview at the US Embassy in Rome or the Consulate in Milan as soon as your I-20 arrives. Summer months fill first.
🏠 From September 15, 2026, F-1 students are admitted for a fixed period tied to their program, not an open-ended duration of status.
How the Italian and US school systems line up
Italian students finish 13 years of schooling before the diploma di maturità, one year more than the 12-year system most US high schools follow. US admissions offices do not read Italian grades, in trentesimi at university level or in decimi at secondary level, on their own. They rely on an outside evaluation to translate your record into a form they recognize.
If you hold an Italian laurea and are applying to a US master's or PhD program, the same rule applies to your university transcript. Build time for this step into your timeline, since it happens before you submit your application, not after.
Admission requirements from Italy
| Application piece | What applicants in Italy need |
|---|---|
| Transcript evaluation | A general or course-by-course report from a NACES member evaluator, covering your diploma di maturità and any university coursework |
| English proficiency | TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, unless your entire secondary or university education ran in English |
| Standardized test | SAT or ACT for undergraduate applicants at schools that still require it, GRE or GMAT for graduate programs that require it |
| Recommendation letters | From teachers or professors who compare you to other students they have taught, translated into English if requested |
| Financial documentation | Bank statements or a sponsor letter showing funds for at least one year of study, required before your school issues the I-20 |
Many US universities have dropped the SAT or ACT requirement in recent years, and policies vary by school and change from year to year. Check each target school's current testing policy directly on its admissions page rather than assuming it matches a school you have already researched.
Getting your transcript evaluated
The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services lists the organizations US universities trust to evaluate foreign transcripts. Members such as WES and ECE accept Italian diplomas and university records, translate and verify them, and issue a report you submit alongside your application.
Order your evaluation early. Processing takes several weeks once the evaluator receives your documents, and a delayed report pushes your entire application past a deadline.
What it costs per year
Cost depends heavily on whether you attend a public or private school, and international students never qualify for public in-state tuition, since that rate is reserved for state residents. Budget using out-of-state and international rates only.
| School type | 2025-26 average |
|---|---|
| Public four-year, out-of-state tuition and fees | 31,880 US dollars |
| Private nonprofit four-year, total cost of attendance | 65,470 US dollars |
These averages come from the College Board's Trends in College Pricing report and cover tuition and fees at the public figure, and the full budget, including room, board, books, and other costs, at the private figure. Add room and board, health insurance, books, and travel on top of a public school's tuition figure to compare it fairly against the private total.
A community college pathway, two years of general education credits before you transfer into a four-year university, costs less than starting directly at a four-year school. Check each community college's own published rates for international students, since they vary by state and by college.
On top of tuition, plan for a minimum of 535 US dollars in US government fees before your visa interview: 350 US dollars for the SEVIS I-901 fee and 185 US dollars for the DS-160 visa application fee.
The visa step once you are admitted
Your school issues Form I-20 once you accept your offer and, at many schools, pay a deposit. Everything else in the visa process depends on having this document first.
Pay the 350 US dollar SEVIS I-901 fee after you receive your I-20.
Complete the DS-160 online application and pay the 185 US dollar visa application fee.
Schedule your interview at the US Embassy in Rome or the US Consulate General in Milan.
Attend your interview with your I-20, DS-160 confirmation, SEVIS receipt, passport, and financial evidence.
Book your interview slot as soon as your I-20 arrives. As of September 2, 2025, the State Department requires nearly all nonimmigrant visa applicants, including F-1 students, to attend an in-person interview, according to guidance published by Columbia University's immigration office . Interview waivers that used to apply to many renewing students no longer apply to most F-1 applicants.
The fixed period of admission change
For years, F-1 students were admitted for duration of status, meaning your legal stay lasted as long as you stayed enrolled, with no fixed expiration date on your admission. That changes on September 15, 2026.
Under the final rule from the Department of Homeland Security , F-1 students entering or admitted on or after that date receive a fixed period tied to the program length on their I-20, capped at four years, plus a 30-day window to arrive before the program starts and a 30-day window to depart after it ends. If your program runs longer than four years, you will need to file an extension application with USCIS before your admission period expires.
The rule also changes your grace period after finishing your program. Students who stay continuously in the US without international travel after September 15, 2026 keep the earlier 60-day grace period. If you travel internationally and re-enter on or after that date, your post-completion grace period drops to 30 days. Confirm the current version of this rule on the official DHS page before you finalize your travel plans, since a rule of this size often faces legal challenges after publication.
Health insurance and housing
US universities require enrolled international students to carry health insurance, either a school-run plan or a private policy that meets the school's minimum coverage rules. This cost sits outside tuition and outside the College Board averages above, so ask each target school what its current plan costs and whether it is mandatory or waivable with proof of comparable coverage.
Most first-year undergraduates live in a dorm on campus, which simplifies your first year since the housing application runs through the same office as your I-20. Graduate students more often rent off campus. Either way, arrange housing before you travel, since arriving in the US without a confirmed address complicates both your visa entry and your school check-in.
Working during your studies
F-1 status allows on-campus work during the semester and opens up practical training tied to your field of study once you meet eligibility requirements, through Curricular Practical Training during your program and Optional Practical Training after you finish. Rules around practical training, including the STEM extension for eligible majors, have shifted in recent years and remain politically contested in 2026. Confirm current eligibility and any pending changes with your school's international student office before you build a budget or a career plan around work authorization.
A realistic timeline
Start the process 12 to 18 months before your intended start date. Order your NACES evaluation and take any required English or standardized test 10 to 12 months out. Submit applications between November and January for fall admission at most schools. Expect admission decisions in March or April, request your I-20 as soon as you accept an offer, and book your visa interview the same week your I-20 arrives, since summer months bring the heaviest demand at posts in Italy. Build in a buffer of a few extra weeks at each stage, since evaluation services, admissions offices, and consular scheduling systems all run on their own timelines outside your control.